Outside Politics

1st August 1999

Top cops on the job

Opposition UNP's second protest campaign on July 22 was confined to Lipton Circus.

If protests the previous week, July 15, was greeted by assaults on UNPers and media personnel, from both independent and state run, the last one was peaceful. Police had decided to allow the UNP to do its protests at Lipton Circus and take a ring side view. That is by positioning themselves in a security cordon thar ringed Lipton Circus. Riot Squads, Water Cannons and Policemen with tear gas launchers were on stand-by.

From a secure location, Colombo DIG T.N.de Silva, monitored developments through his walkie talkie. Senior Policemen were reporting to him from positions assignned to them.

The Sunday Times has obtained a transcript of a conversation on the Police radio net in the afternoon of July 22, 1999. This is how it went:

ASP Nihal Karunaratne, head of Presidential Security Division (PSD) to SP Colombo South, Sunil Perera: "Sir, send them towards Galle Road.."

SP Sunil Perera: "There is no problem as yet..."

ASP Karunaratne to IGP: "Sir, they can be sent towards Galle Road. I will see about it...

IGP: "You can inform SP South."

T.N. de Silva DIG Colombo: "Only my orders to be carried out. The demonstration will not go beyond Dharmapala Mawatha.

SP Sunil Perera: "Yes, Sir..."

DIG de Silva to IGP: "Sir, whose orders should I carry out? The demonstration will not go beyond Dharmapala Mawatha....

Radio silence for almost ten minutes

IGP to DIG de Silva: "Do not allow them to go beyond Dharmapala Mawatha...."

Nothing unusual

The convocation of the Kotalawala Defence Academy last week at the BMICH was planned to military precision. There were rehearsals and repeated briefings to those taking part to stick to time. The ceremonies were to begin at 3 p.m. and end exactly at 4.40 p.m.

But the chief guest, President Chandrika Bandaranaike, Commander -in-Chief, arrived at 5 p.m.

A security officer was heard to explain that the delay was prompted by security considerations.

Jungle Telegraph

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